Circuit-controller for mechanically-playing instruments.



V J. H. LESLEY & H. M. ENZ.

CiRCUlT CONTROLLER FOR MECHANICALLY PLAYING INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10. I909.

1,198,860,. Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' Jf/Zaa/ey To all whom it mag concern;-

Pannier onmon.

JOHnnQiLEsLnvfAnnj HENRY n. nnz, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA; SAID Ens ca c r y ASSIGNOR TO SAID LEsLEY. Y

cIncuir-coiwanommn FOR MECHANICALLY-PLAYING- insrnnarnnrs.

- Be it. known that We, JO N H. LESLEY and HENRY M.. ENZ, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of-"Alleghenyand State oflPennsylvania, have invented certain newy. andv usefulImprovemehts'; in Circuit-Controllers for Mechanically-PlayingInstruments, of which the following is a specification. r

This invention relates to mechanical playing instruments, and moreparticularly to- ,that type of instrument commonly styled a self-playingpiano, wherein a suitable source of electrical energy is employed as theoperating medium.

The object of our invention is to provide an electric piano Witha simpleand eifective attachment that will automatically control the operationof the piano and allow a prede termined number of p'ieces'of music to besuccessively played orreproduced, according to the number of coins oractuating disks placed in the piano, to release and set in motion i themechanism for'operating the same. i We'attain theabove object by anattach ment-that has been particularly designed forthat type of electriccoin-controlled piano Wherein the following well'known elements arecooperatively arranged, namely, motor driven pneumatics for actuatingthe hammers, valves controlling the'operation of the hammers, a tracker,aperforated sheet of paper in connection with the tracker forcontrolling the operation of the valves, and addit ionally'-a' coinmechanism for completing certain electrical circuits for setting thevarious mechanisms in operation. It is common in this type of electricplayers to provide the perforated sheet of paper or music with a certainperforation or open ing at the end of the piece of music reproduced bythe player, to" cause a cessation in the operation of the player untilanother coin has been placed in the instrument, and in designing ourimprovement, We have aimed to provide a small device that will permit ofa plurality of coins being placed in the instrument and'the normalstoppage of the operationof the instrument is delayed until a pieceof'music' or a tune has been reproduced foreach and every coin depositedin the playerl 7 ()ur device canbe advantageously used in connectionwith pianos used in clubs and Specification of Letters Patent.

I I Application filed m 10, 1909. Serial No. 507,0s1.

forming part of this specification, wherein We have shown What Weconsider a practical embodiment of the invention;;neverthe less, Wedesire it to be understood that the structural elements thereof aresusceptible to changes Without departing from the scope of theinvention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation of one side of adetached device constructed in accordance with our invention, Fig. 2 isa vieW of the opposite side of the device,

Fig. 3 is a plan of the device, Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of a pianoequipped with the device, and Fig. 5 is a. cross sectional view taken onthe line XX of Fig. 3.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes a piano having the rear sidethereof pro-- vided With vertical posts 2. The endmost posts of thepiano are connected to the end frames 3 thereof by handles i, Whichfacilitates the movement of the piano. Above one of these handles islocated a platform or shelf 5, and upon this platform. or shelf i;-arranged my improvement.

Thedevice comprises abase plate 6 provided intermediate the ends thereofwith oppositely disposed vertical bearings 7 and S, and in thesehearings is revolubly mounted a shaft 9. The bearing 8 is provided witha resilient thrust bearing 10 adjusted through the medium of a set screw11, said thrust bearing engaging the end of the shaft 9, and preventinglongitudina movement of said shaft during the operation of the device.

Upon the shaft 9 is fixed an at vancing toothed wheel 12 and a collar13. Engaging said collar is a loosely nounted reversing toothed Wheel14:, which is held in engagement with the collar 13 by a triangularfriction clutch member 15, said memlwr being loosely mounted upon theshaft 9 and frictionally held in engagement with the reversing toothedwheel 14 by collar 16..

secured to the shaft 9.

Loosely mounted in bearings 1 carried by from a money making vancingtoothed wheel 12, said pawl being' held in engagement with said wheel bya spring 21, attached to the short arm 19 and to the pawl 20. The longarm 22 of the bell crank lever extends through a guard 23 carried by theplate 6, said long arm having the free end thereof provided with a coinplate 24 adapted to be impinged by coins deposited in the piano forsetting the operating mechanism thereof in motion. The long arm 22adjacent to the rock shaft 18 is con nected by a coil spring 25 to ascrew 26 adjustably mounted in a vertical bracket 27 arranged upon theplate 6, adjacent to the rock shaft 18. The screw 26 permits of thetension of the spring 25 being adjusted, and this spring normallymaintains the coin plate 24 inan elevated position to be struck by acoin to 'movethe bell crank lever and cause the, spring pressedpawlthereof to advance the toothed wheel 12 mounted upon the shaft 9. 1

Attached to one end of the plate 6 is a bellows or pneumatic comprisinga vertical foundation board 28 and a movable board 29 connected to thefoundation board 28 by an ordinary flexible casing 30. -The foundationboard 28 is provided with a nipple 31 adapted to be connected by a hoseor flexible connection 32 to the usual pneumatic structure, theoperation" of which is controlled by sheet perforations as is usual insuch type of devices, as for instance, indicated in the patent toHobart, N0. 7 86,988, April 11, 1905. The movable board 29 is connectedby pivoted links 33 to a pawl 34 slidably mounted in a casing 35,carried by a bracket 36 mounted upon the plate 6. The pawl is adapted toengage the reversing toothed wheel 14, as will hereinafter appear. Themovable board 29 of the bellows is limited in its movement by anadjustable screw 37 carried by said board contacting with a lug 38carried by the upper edge of the foundation board 28. The screw 37 canbe adjusted to regulate the movement of the pawl 34, consequently themovement of the reversing toothed wheel 14.

Upon the end of the plate 6- opposite the bellows is located an electricswitch, similar to a knife switch. This switch comprises contact arms 39and connecting with said arms are wires 40 and 41.- Said wires areoperatively connected to a suitable operating device, such as a motor42; a socket 43 may be employed in the circuit to provide motoroperation from an electric light circuit, wire 44 connecting the socketand motor. The power may be provided by batteries if desired. Adapted tocontact with the arms 39 is a switch blade 45, said blade beingfulcrumed in the standard 46 carried by the plate 6. This-standard islocated in proximity to the reversing toothed wheel 14,

whereby the end of the switch blade ,will

contact with a pin 47 carried by the toothed wheel 14. The switch blade45 is nor-mall} coin plate 24. This chute is of a conventional form andcan extend from the forward side or end of the piano to the rearthereof, to convey coins to a point directly above the coin plate 24,whereby the coins deposited from the chute will strike the coin plateand actuate the bell crank lever carried by the rock shaft 18. We willassume that one coin is placed in the piano to i set the operatingmechanism thereof in motion to reproduce one piece of music or a tune.lVhen the coin strikes the plate 24, the bell crank lever carried by therock shaft 18 is rocked to advance the spring pressed pawl 20 and causethe toothed wheel 12 to rotate the shaft 9. lVhen this shaft is 1'0-tated, the triangular clutch member 15 causes the toothed wheel 14 tomove with said shaft, and the pin 47 of the wheel 14 releasesthe rearend of the switch blade 45 and allows said switch blade to drop betweenthe contactarms 39 and complete an electrical circuit, which places theoperating mechanism of the piano in operation. This circuit ismaintained during the playing or reproduction of one piece of music, andupon the stop perforation of the piece of music reaching the tracker apneumatic valve located within the piano is immediately placed inoperation to exhaust the air within the bellows of our device. Asheretofore stated, such a stop perforation in the perforated sheet ofmusic is common in mechanical players, also the pneumatic valve forcreating a vacuum in the bellows. Vhen the bellows of our device isactuated the pawl 34 is moved to operate the reversing toothed wheel 14,causing the pin 47 (which acts as a tripping element) to againmove intoengagement with the rear end of the switch blade 45 and elevate theforward end of said blade, thereby breaking the electrical circuit andcausing the operation of the piano to cease.

As a further illustration of the operation of our device in connectionwith a piano, we will assume that ten coins or actuating disks aredeposited in the chute 50. As the chute permits the coins topasstherethrough only in succession, these coins successively 1mpinge thecoin plate 24, which, owing to the spring support, thereof, will returnto normal position between the successive coin strikings (actual usehaving demonstrated that coins cannot be fed through a coin chute withsufficient rapidity to prevent the return of the coin plate betweensuccessive coin strikings) causes the spring pressed pawl 20 of the bellcrank lever to advance the toothed Wheel 12 ten times, that is saidtoothed wheel is intermittently moved to move the pin '47 out ofengagement with the switch blade 45'and also moves it a distance whichrequires ten movements of the pawl 34 to return the pin to initialposition.

This movement of the reversing wheel 14 is accomplished through themedium of the t'rianglar clutch member 15, causing said toothed Wheel 14to move in unison with the shaft. 9 and the toothed wheel 12, the pawl34 being out of engagement with said wheel 14 during this operation.lVith the pin 47 thus moved out of engagement with the switch blade 45,it is obvious that said' switch blade will remain in engagement with thecontact arms 39, until said pin again engages the rear end of switchblade 45 and elevates said blade to break the circuit between thecontact arms 39. As will be obvious, this advancing of the wheels 12 and14 can take place without regard to the playing of-the music, thusproviding an independentdelivery storage element which is not controlledin any respect by the playing of the successive tunes, and which may beagain operated to increase the number of stored tunes, before theprevious number of tunes has been completely delivered. Now,

immediately upon coins striking the plate 24 the operating mechanism isplaced in operation and'the first piece within the 'piano is reproduced.At the end of the first piece the stop perforation in the roll of musiccauses the pneumatic valve to operate and create a vacuum in thebellows, which actuates the pawl 34. and reverses the toothed wheel 14the distance of one tooth or space. The neXt piece of music repro-'piano.

As will be understood, the general arcence 3 rangement is such as toretain the circuit normally broken, this being the normal position .ofthe switch and its controlling strument disclosed), returning to suchnormal position upon the completion of such period. While thecontrolling structure or element, may have movement during this period,this movement takes place while it is out of its normal position, sothat such movements have no effect whatever in breaking the circuit, thelatter taking place only when such structure or element returns to itsnormal position; consequently the circuit remains uninterruptedly closedduring this period, the mechanism being continuously operated by reasonof the motor circuit remaining unbroken.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the operation of ourdevice will be fully understood without entering into the detailconstruction of the pneumatics, tracker and perforated sheet of musicused in connection with the piano. As heretofore stated, the lastmentioned elements are common to mechanical players and our device isapplicable to most any player when provision is made for connecting thewires and an air conduit to the same, besides correctly positioning thecoin chute whereby coins will contact with the plate 24 and be deflectedinto a suitable coin receptacle in connection with the piano.

Having now described our invention what we claim as new is:

1. In a device of the character described, a make and breakdeviceadapted to control an electric circuit, and mecl1anism for controllingthe operation of said device, said mechanism comprising an elementnormally positioned to break the circuit at said device and movable toand from such normal position, a pivoted lever free from electriccontrol, means for moving said element in one direction from its normalposition through a series of positions controlled in number by thenumber of movements of the lever, such movement closing the circuit atsuch device, and means for returning said element through such series ofpositions to its normal position, said element, when in either of suchseries of positions, being out of such normal circuit-breaking position,whereby the circuit will be maintained closed when the elementis out ofsuch normal position.

2. in a device for controlling the operagreases tions ofsheet-controlled mechanisms, a make and break device adapted tocontrolan electric circuit, an element adapted to. .normal1y maintain saidcircuit broken at such device and movable in one direction to close-5'the circuit at the device, means including a piv oted lever for movingsaid element step-bystep in the direction to close the circuit, saidlever being free from electric control, and pneumatic means for movingthe element in the opposite direction step-by-step, said latter movementbeing adapted to break the circuit when the element is moved to itsnormal position, said element, in either of its step positions, beinginactive to break the circuit at the device, whereby the circuit will bemaintained closed when the element is in either of the step positions.

3. In a device for controlling the operations of sheet-controlledmechanisms, a make and break device adapted to control an electriccircuit, an element movable step-by-step in opposite directions to andfrom a predetermined position, a pivoted lever free from electriccontrol and adapted to control the movements of the element in onedirection, independently-operated means for mov-' ing said element inthe opposite direction, and a member adapted to break the circuit whenaid element is in such predetermined position, said element beinginactive with respect to said member when out of such position, the laststep-1novement of the element toward such position providing cooperatingactivity between member and element to break the circuit, the first stepof such element movement from said position being adapted to close thecircuit.-

4. In a device for controlling the operation of sheet-controlledmechanisms, means adapted to make and break an electric circuit, saidmeans comprising a make and break device normally tending to close thecircuit, an element normally positioned to cooperate with said device toretain the circuit broken and movable out of such position to permit thedevice to close the circuit, a pawl and pivoted lever mechanism operableat will to provide element move ments from such normal position, wherebythe device is permitted to close the circuit, said pawl and lovermechanism being additionally operative with respect to said element to,increase the length of time the circuit remains closed, said elementbeing inactive to cause device circuitbreaking action during suchadditional operation, and means independent of said pawl and levermechanism for returning the device to circuit-breaking position after apredetermined uninterrupted period of circuit activity.

In a device for controlling the operation of sheet-controlledmechanisms, means adapted to make and break an electric circuit, saidmeans comprising a make. and break device normally tending to close thecircuit, an element normally positioned to cooperate with said device-to retain the circuit broken and movable out of such position to permitthedevice to close the circuit, a pawl and pivoted lever mechanismoperable at will to provide element-movements from such normal position,whereby the device is permitted to close the circuit, said pawl andlever mechanism being additionally operative with respect to said element to increase the length of time the circuit remains closed, saidelement being inactive to cause device circuit-breaking action duringsuch additional operation, means independent oi said pawl and levermechanism for returning the device to circuit-breaking position after apredetermined uninterrupted period of circuit activity, said mechanismand returning means being operable step by step.

6. In a device for controlling the operation of sheetcontrolledmechanisms, a switch normally tending to close an elec tric circuit, ashaft, means actuated by the shaft for opening the switch and forretaining the circuit open, a starting wheel upon the shaft, a lever, apawl carried by said lever and engaging the starting wheel to turn theshaft and release the switch, and means for turning the shaft to openthe switch after a predetermined period.

7. In a device for controlling the operation of sheet-controlledmechanisms, a switch normally tending to close an electric circuit ashaft, a starting wheel upon the shaft, a pawl engaging the startingwheel for turning the same, means for releasing the switch when thestarting wheel is turned by said pawl, a second wheel upon the shaft, apneumatic, an operative connection between the pneumatic and the secondwheel for. turning the latter, and means for opening the switch when thesaid second wheel is turned by the pneumatic.

8. In combination, a switch normally tending to close an electriccircuit, a shaft, a wheel frictionally mounted upon the shaft, aprojection upon the wheel, means actuated by the projection for openingthe switch when the wheel is turned in one direction and for retainingthe circuit open, said means releasing the switch to close the cir-'cuit when the wheel is turned in the oppo site direction, a secondwheel rigid with the shaft, a lever, a pawl carried by the said leverand engaging the second wheel to turn the same to operate the firstmentioned wheel and release the switch, a pawl adapted to act upon thefirst mentioned wheel to rotate the same upon the shaft in an oppositedirection to that in which it is turned by the second mentioned wheel toopen the switch, and means for bringing the second pawl into action apredetermined time after the switch has been'closed.

9. In combination, a base, a switch uponthe base and normally tendin toclose an electric circuit, a shaft mounte on the base, a wheelfrictionally mounted upon the shaft,

means actuated by the wheel for controlling switch action, said meansnormally maintaining the switch in position to break the circuit,movements of the wheel in one direction causing said means to releasetheswitch to close the circuit, reverse movement of the wheel moving themeans in the direction of its normal position, said means being inactivewith respect to the switch when out of such normal position, a secondwheel rigid with the shaft, a lever mounted upon the base and free fromelectric control,

a pawl carried by the said lever and engaging the second mentioned wheelto rotate the same and thereby provide the switch circuit closingoperation, a second pawl adapted to engage the first mentioned wheel torotate the same upon the shaft in a direction opposite to that in whichit is turned through the medium of the second mentioned wheel, a

pneumatic mounted upon the base, and an operative connection between thepneumatic and the second pawl..

10. In a device for controlling the operation of sheet-controlledmechanisms, a make and break device adapted to control an electriccircuit, a rotatable element carrying a member adapted to move saiddevice to I 1' :l break the circuit by movements of the element in onedirection, a pivoted lever free from electric control, means controlledby the movements of the lever for moving the element in the oppositedirection step-by step, the latter movements of the element renderingthe make and break device active to close the circuit, and pneumaticmeans for moving the element step-by-step to return the member to itscircuit-breaking position.

tion of-sheet-controlled mechanisms, a make and break devlce adapted tocontrol an electric circuit, a movable element carrying a member adaptedto move said device to break the circuit by movements .of the element inone direction, a pivoted lever free from electric control, meanscontrolled by the movements of the lever for moving the element in theopposite direction. step-bystep, the latter movements of the elementrendering the make and break device active to close the circuit, andpneumatic means for moving the element step-by-step to return the memberto its circuit breaking position.

a In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

. JOHN H. LESLEY.

HENRY M. E-NZ. Witnesses:

MAX H. SRoLovrrz, M. J. BAYAN.

. (5 11. In a device forcontrolling the opera-

